Exposition of the Whole Bible

“AAS the former chapter declares the hypocrify A and formality of profeffors of religion; ‘this exprefies the errors and herefies, immorality and prophanenefs, which fhall prevail’ before the fpiritual reign of Chrift, or the latter 'day-clory begins; which is fo fully defcribed in the next chapter. Reafons are given of God’s withdrawing his prefence from a profefling people, which were not want of power and readinefS in him, but ‘their own fins and tranfereffions, ¥..1, 2. which are enumerated, fuch as murder, rapine, lies, ce. ¥. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. for which the judgments of God were upon them, darknefs, diftrefs, and mifery, of which they were fenfible, ¥. 9, 10, 11. and confefs their fins and tran{gteffions, ¥.12, 13. and lament their wretched ftate and condition, which was difpleafing to God, y. 14, 15. who is reprefented as appearing for their falvation; moved to it by their want of help, and the oppreffion of their enemies, in which he fhows his power, juflice, zeal, grace, and goodnefs, ¥. 16, 17, 18. the confequence of which fhall be the converfion and falvation of many, owing to the efficacy of the divine Spirit, and to the fpiritual coming of the Redeemer, ¥. 19, 20. and the chapter is clofed with a promife of the continuance of the Spirit of God, and the gofpel of

Chrift in his church, unto the end of the world, y¥. 21.

¥. 1. Bebold, the Lord’s hand is not fhortened that ttcannot fave, &c.]° It is not for want of power in the Lord, that he has not as yet deftroyed the enemies of his people, antichrift, and the antichriftian’ ftates, and faved them out of their hands, and made them to triumph over them; or brought on the glorious {tate of the ‘church, and fulfilled the promifes of good things, fuggefted in the latter part of the preceding chapter. His hand is as"

Jong as ever, and as able to reach ‘his and’ their enemies in the greateft height of power, or at the - greateft diftance, and to do every good: thing for them; his: power is as’ great as ever, and not'in the leaft abridged or curtailed. © Neither bis ear Beavy that it cannot hear the prayers of his people, their cries unto him on their faft-days, of which he feemed to take no notice, complained’ of ch. lviii. 3. this is not owing to any want of -attention in him, or of readinefs to hear prayer made unto him; for he is a’‘God’ hearing and anfwering | * ache lo ‘is ready 'to help his people in every

¢ of need, who apply’to him in ‘a proper and

“fats are open to their cries. And this is introduced with 'W debold, as requiring attention, and deferving

“the notice and confideration of his people. The da T° engined. wniggs9 Ldfvag).ss. ean have fpoken lies; or falfehood >, that is, falfe docsi 44 ge ag nll a1) Sih ein “: / yin

Targum is, ** behold, not thro’ defect of hand (or “ power) from the Lord ye are not faved’; nor “ becaufe it is heavy to him to hear, that your *¢ prayer is not received.” Peet {Ys

“¥. 2. But your iniquities have feparated between you and your God, &c.] Like a partition-wall dividing between them, fo that they enjoy no communion with him in his worfhip and ordinances; which is greatly the cafe of the Reformed churches: they profefs the true God, and the worfhip of him, and do ‘attend the outward ordinances of it; but this is done’in fuch a cold formal way, and fuch fins and wickednefs are perpetrated and connived at, that the Lord does not grant his gracious, pre= fence to them, but ftands at a diftance from them: ond your fins bave hid his face from you, that he will not bear; or have caufed him to hide ‘himfelf; withdraw his gracious prefence; neglect the prayers put up to him; deny an‘anfwer to them; or however, not appear as yet for the: deliverance and falvation of them, and ‘bringing them into a‘ more comfortable, profperous, and happy condition. —

¥. 3. For your hands are defiled with blood, and

| your fingers with iniquity, &c.} From a- general charge, the prophet proceeds to.a particular enumeration of' fins they were guilty of; and idolatry not being mentioned, as Yerom obierves; fhows that

| the prophecy belongs to-other:times than J aiah’s, when that fin greatly prevailed. He begins the account with the fin of fhedding d/ged; the blood of innocents, as the Targum; defigning either the fin of murder, now frequently committed in chri- {tian nations; or wars between chriftian: princes; by’ miéans of which much blood is fhed;: or perfecutions of chriftian brethren, -by cafting.them into prifons, which ‘have iffted in their death; and at leaft want‘of:brotherly love, or. the-hatred of ‘bre; thren; which is called: wnurder, 1 Febs iii. 25. a prevailing fin in the prefent Sardian. ftate; and which will not be removed till the f{piritual reig ot Philadelpbian ftate takes place: and this fin is of a defiling ‘nature 5 it-defiles the hands or actions 5 and without love all works fignify nothing, 1 Cor. Kili I,.2, 3. yea, even. their fiagers are faid to be defiled. with iniquity, meaning -either.their leffer actions; or rather thofe more curioufly and nicely performed, and {eemingly more ‘agreeable to the divine will; and yet defiled with fome fin or-other, as hypocrify, vain glory, or the like.: or /it may be, ‘this may defign ‘the fame as putting forth the finger, and fmiting withthe fit, ch. vill. 4, g. as’ Kimchi and Ben Melech oliferve; and fo may have refpeé&t to fome fort of perfecution of their brethren. for confcience-fake,, as there, -Your Lips trines, fo called becaufe contrary to the word: of truth, and which deceive men: your tongue hath muttered perverfene/s; that which is a perverfion of the gofpel of Chrilt, and of the fouls of men; what is contrary to the facred fcriptures, the ftandard of faith and practice, and that. premeditated, as the word ‘ fignities; done with defign, and on purpofe: the abounding of errors and herefies in the prefent day, openly taught and divulged, to the ruin of- fouls, feems here to be pointed at. In the Talmud * thefe are explained of the feveral forts of men in a court of judicature; the sands of the judges; the fzgers of the fcribes; the dps of advocates and folicitors; and the tongue of adverfaries, or the contending parties, y. 4. None calleth for juftice, &c.} Or, righteoufne/s; not. for civil juftice in Courts of judicature, as if there were no advocates for it theres:

or that put thofe in mind of it, to whom the adminiftration of it belongs; or that fee to put the laws againft fin in execution, and to relieve thofe that are oppreffed; tho’ of this there may be jutt caufe of. complaint in fome places: but there are none or few that call for evangelical righteouinets, either that preach it, proclaim and publith it to others; even the righteoufnefs of Chrift, the grand doétrine of the. goipel, which is therein revealed from faith to faith; fo the Syriac verfion, there is none that preacheth righteoufly, or in, or of righteoufnefs *; and the Septuagint verfion, no one peaks righteous things; the words and do¢trines of righteoufnefs and::uth: or, 20 one calls for righteoujne s;

defires to hear this doctrine, and have it. preached to him; hungers and thirfts after it; but chufes the doétrine of juftification by works. The Yargum refers it to prayer, paraphrafing it thus, * there *¢ is none that prays in truth;” in fincerity and uprightnefs, in faith and with fervour; but-in.a cold, formal and hypocritical way: or any pleadeth for truth for the truth of the gofpel, particularly for the principal one, the juftitication of a finner by the righteoufnefs of Chrift alone; few or none contend earneftly for the faith once delivered. to the faints; they are not valiant for the truth, nor ftand faft in it, but drop or conceal it, or deny it: or, none 1s judged by, ox according to truth”; by the {criptures of truth, but by carnal reafon; or by forms and rules of man’s devifing, and fo are condemned; as gofpel-minifters and. profeflors of it are: they trujt im. vanity; in nothing, as. the Vulgate Latin, that is worth nothing; in their own ftrength, wifdom, riches, righteouinefs, efpecially the latter: and fpeak lies; or vanity; vain things, falfe doctrines, as before: they conceive mifchief, and bring forth iniquity, they conceive and contrive mi - chief in their minds againft thofe that differ in doctrine and practice from them: and bring. forth iniquity; do that which is criminal and finful,, by words and actions, by calumnies and: reproaches, by.violence and perfecution... The Targum is, “ they

“* haften and bring out of their hearts words ot “* violence.”.

Spider's. web, &c.} Invent falfe doétrines according to their own.fancies, which may feem fair and plaufible, but are poifonous and pernicious; as the eggs of the cockatrice, which may look like, and may be taken for, the eggs of creatures fit to eat;

* SY in juftitia, Montanus, Tigurine verhion ¢ five de juftitia, ~ fitable as the /pider’s webs and ferve only to en~

{nare and entangle the minds of men, and will net ftand before the word of God, which fweeps thems away at once; particularly of this kind:is the doc= trine of juftification by the works of men, which are like the fpider’s web, fpun out of its own bowels; fo thefe are from themfelves, as the doe- trine of them is a device of man, and is not of

God: be that eateth of their eggs, dieth; as a mam that eats of cockatrice-eggs dies immediately, being rank poifon; fo he that approves of falle doctrines, receives them, and ieeds upon them, dies fpiritually and eternally; thefe are damnable doctrines, which bring upon men fwift deftruétion 5 they are poifonous, and eat as de a canker, and deftroy the fouls of men: and that which is “an | breaketh out into a viper; or cockatrice; fo Ku and Ben Melech take it to be the fame creature as before, which goes by different names; and the words feem to require this fenfe; however, it cannot be the creature we call the viper, fince that is not oviparous, but viviparous, Jays net eggs, bur brings forth its young; tho’ both driforle “ and

Pliny * at the fame. time. they fay it is vivi - yet ebfrve that it breeds eggs. within itfelf, which are of one colour, and foft like fithes.: gum renders it, flying Jerpents; the fenfe is, that a man is cautious, ‘ard does not eat of the cockatrice-eggs, but fets his foot on them, and cruthes them, out comes the vénomous creature, and he is in danger of being hurt by it; fo aman thar does not embrace falfe doétrines, and elcapes eter-"

nal death by them, but tramples upon them, oppofes them, and endeavours to crufh and defuog them, yet he is expofed to, and brings upon himfelf calumnies, reproach and perfecution,. ¥.6. Their webs fhall not become garments, neither Joall they cover themfelves with their works, &e.4 As {piders, webs are not fit to make garments of, are too thin to cover naked bodies, or thelter from: bad weather, or injuries from different caufes; fo neither the falfe doctrines of men will be of any ufe to themfelves, or to others that receive them; particularly the doctrine of juftification by works: thefe are not proper garments to cover the naked+ nefs of a finner from the fight of God, or flreen him from avenging juitice; but his hope which is placed on them will be cut off, and his truft it them will be a fpider’s web, of no avail to him, Fob viii. 14: their works are works of iniquity; both of preacher and hearer; even their beft works are finful; not only as being imperfect, and having a mixture of fin in them, and {o filthy rags, and imfufficient to juftify them before God; but becaufe done from wrong principles, and with wrong and tending to fet afide the juftifying righteo ne{s- of Chrift, and God’s way of juitifying fin ners by it, which is abominable to him: end adi of violence is in their bands; they perfecuting fuch that preach and profefs the contrary doc ¥.7. Their feet run to eusl, &c.)\, Make to commit all manner of fin, and particularly t which follows, with great eagernefs and fwi taking delight and pleafure therein, and. in it; itis their courfe of life. 4

* FP FIVINA ODL) YN nemo judicatur fecundum veritatem, Munfter; non judicatur in veritate, Montanus.; ore

‘and fpin out of their brains a fine {cheme of thi but which are as thin, and as ufelefs, and “Gap with the following by the apoftle Paul, Rom. iii.

“15; 16, 17. to prove the general corruption of mankind: and they make bafte to feed innocent blood; in wars abroad or at home, in quarrels and riots, or thro’ the heat of perfecution; which if it does not directly touch mens lives, yet iffues in the death of many that fall under the power of it; and which perfecutors are very eager and hafty in. the profecution of. The phrate fitly defcribes their temper and conduct: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; their thoughts are continually devifing ‘things vain and finful in‘themfelves, unprofitable to them, and pernicious to others: their thoughts, words and actions being evil; their tongue, ‘lips, hands and feet being empioyed in fin, {hew their general depravity: wafting and deftruétion are in their paths, they watte and deftroy all they meet with in their ways, their fellow creatures and their fubftance; and the ways they walk in lead to ruin and deftruction, which will be their portion for evermore. | _ ¥..8. The way of peace they know not, &c.| Neither the way of peace with God, fuppofing it is to be made by:man, and ‘not by Chriit; and are ignorant of the fteps and methods taken to procure it; nor do they know the way of peace of confcience, or how to attain to that which is true and folid; nor the way to eterna] peace and happinels, which is alone by-Chrift, and the gofpel of peace reveals, to which they are ftrangers; nor the way of peace among men, which they are unconcerned about, and do not feek after, make ufe of no methods to:promote, {ecure and eftablifh it; but all the reverie: and there is no judgment in their goings; no juftice in their actions, in their dealings with men; no judgment in their religious duties, which are done without any regard to the divine rule, or without being able to give a reafon for them; they have no judgment in matters of doctrine or worfhip; they have no difcerning of true and falfe doétrines, and between that which is fpiritual and fuperftitious in worfhip; they have no knowledge of the word of God, which fhould be their guide both in faith and practice; but this they do not attend unto: ¢hey have made them crooked paths; they have devifed paths and modes of worfhip of their own, in which they walk, and which they obferve, that are not according to the rule of the word, but deviate from it; and fo may be faid to be crooked, as not agreeable to that: who/oever goeth therein foall not know peace, the way of peace with God, as before; or he fhall not have any experience of true, folid and fubftantial peace in his own confcience now, and fhall not attain to eternal peace hereafter. m3 y.9. Therefore is judgment far from us, 8c. ] Thefe are the words of the few godly perfons in thofe times, taking notice of prevailing fins, confeffing and lamenting them, and obferving that thefe were the fource of their calamities under which they groaned; therefore, becaufe of the above mentioned fins, and in juft retaliation, no juftice or judgment being among men; therefore, in great righteoufnets judgment is far from us; or God does

‘not appear to right our wrongs, and avenge us of our enemies, but fuffers them to afflict and diftrefs

4 OWN in rebus pinguiflimis, magnum -fplendorem, Vitringa.

us: neither doth juffice overtake us, the righteoufnefs of God inflicting vengeance on our enemies, and faving and protecting us; this does not come up with us, nor do we enjoy the benefit of it, but walk on without it unproteéted, and expofed to the infults of men: we wait for light, but bebold objeurity; for brightne/s,’ but we' walk in darknefs; or for brightneffes*; for much clear light; but we walk in mifts *; in thick fogs, and have fcarce any light at all. The méaning is, they waited for deliverance and falvation; but inftead of that, had the darknefs of affliction and diftrefs; or they were expecting latter day-light and glory, the clear and bright fhining of gofpel-truths; but inftead of that, were furrounded with the darknefs of ignorance and infidelity, {uperftition, and will-worfhip, and

¥. 10. Weigrope for the wall like the blind, 8cc.}

Who either with their hands, or with a ftaff in them, feel for the wall to lean againit, or to guide them in'the way, or into the houfe, that they may know whereabout they are, and how they fhould fteer their courfe: and we grope as if we had na eyes; which yet they had, the eyes of their reafon and underftanding; but which either were~ not opened, or they made no ufe of them in fearching the feriptures, to come at the light and knowledge of divine things; and therefore only at moft groped after them by the dim light ‘of nature, if thereby they might find them. not of them all, but of many, and of the greateft part: we flumble at noon-day, as in the night; as many perfons do now; for tho’ it is noon-day in fome refpects, and in fome places, where the gofpel and the truths of it are clearly preached;° yet men ftumble and fall into the greateft errors, as in the night of the greateft darknefs; as if it was either the night of paganifm or popery with them: we are in defolate places as dead men or in fatneffes*; in tat places where the word and ordinances are adminiftered, where is plenty of the means of grace, yet not quickened thereby; are as dead men, dead in trefpafiés and fin, and at moft have only a name to live, but are dead. Some render it, i# the graves”; and the Targum thus, *¢ it is fhut before us, as the graves are fhut be- ** fore the dead;” we have no more light, joy and comfort than thofe in the graves have. ¥. 11. We roar all like bears, and mourn fore like doves, &cc.| Some in a more noify and clamorous, others in a ftiller way, yet all-in private: for the bear, ‘when robbed of its whelps, goes to its den and roars; and the dove, when it has loft its mate, mourns in folitude: this expreffts the fecret groan - ings of the faints under a fenfe of fin, and the forlorn ftate of religion. ‘The Yargum paraphrafes it thus, ‘* we roar becaufe of our enemies; who are ‘* oathered againft us as bears; all of us indeed “© mourn fore as doves:” we look for judgment, but there is none; for falvation, but it is far from us; we expect that God will take vengeance on our - enemies, and fave us; look for judgment on antichrift, and the antichriftian ftates, and for the falvation of the church of Ged; for the vials of di-! Vine = bona in caliginibus, vine wrath on the one, and for happy times to the other; but neither of them as yet come; the reafon of which is as follows. (9 40.

¥.13.. In tronfereffing and lying againft tke Lord, &c.].. The. word. of the. Lord, asthe Targum they tranferefs the doétrine. of Chrift, as well as the law, of God, and deny him the only Lord God, even our Lord Jefus, Chrilt, his! proper deity, his righteoufnels. and. fatisfaction, »which. rious in-our days; fo the Syrigc verfion. renders it, we have denied ihe Lord; the Lord’ that bonght them; this is the cafe.of many under 4. profeffion of Chrift: and departing away from our Ged; from following him, from walking in his ways, from attending his worfhip, word and ordinances; fo the Targum, “ from the worfhip of our God” from Immanuel, God with us, God in our nature; from him the living God, as every degree of unbelief is a departing from him; and efpecially he is departed from, when his divine perfon is denied; when’ negleéted as the Saviour; his gofpel corrupted; his ordinances perverted, and his worthip, er the afiembly of the faints, forfaken: /peaking eppreffion and revolt, fach who are in public office, {peakers in the church of God; thefe fpeak what is oppreffive and burdenfome to the minds and confciences of thofe who are truly gracious; make their hearts fad, whom God would not have made fad, by their falfe doétrines; and which have a tendency to caufé men to revolt from: the Lord, and turn their backs on him: or, /peak calumny and defection *, as fome vender it; calumniate, reproach and revile the few faithful ones, and draw off many from the truths of the gofpel, and a profeffion of them. The Targum renders. it, faifbeod: and gpo- Jiacy falfe doctrine, which leads to apoftacy from: Chrift; ‘with which the next claufe agrees: con ceiving and uttering from the beart words of falfbeod; falfe doétrines; fuch as agree not with, but are contrary to, the word ofjGod;: thefe*arevof nie own ‘conceiving’ and contriving 3 -the produce oft ® > their own brains y the fruit of: their own fancy‘and” imaginations’ and which; ‘out of ‘the: of their: hearts, they utter, even | premeditated falfhoods, ‘ftudied lies, as» in’ 3. fee the note’ — there.) 9) 2 se) ee i ee

¥. 12, For our tranfyrefions are multiplied before thee, &c.] Not only an increafe of immorality among. the people in common, but among profefiors of teligion; and as their tranfgreffions are committed againit the. Lord, fo they are in his fight taken notice of, and obferved by him, are loathfome and abominable to him, and call aloud for his judgments on, them): and cur fins tefiify again us; God is a witnefs againft us, in whofe fight.our fins are done; and_our confciences are witneffes againft us, which are asia thoufand witnefies;_and there’s no denying facts; our fins flare us in the face, and we muft confefs our guilt’: our fins anfwer againft us* 5 as witnellés called and examined anfwer to the queftions pyt, fo our fins being brought as it were into open court, \anfwer and bear teftimony againft us; or it mutt be owned, our punifhment for our fins: anfwers to them; it is the eccho of our fins, what they call for, and righteoufly comes. upon uss for our tranfgrefions are with us; or, on us’; in our minds, en our confciences, loading us with guilt; continually accufing and condemning us; are. manifeft to us, as the Targum too manifeft to:be denied: and as for our iniquities, we know them; the nature and number of them, and the aggravating circumftances that attend them; and cannot but own and acknowledge them, confefs, lament and the bewail them; an enumeration of which follows, y.14, And judgment is. turned away backward, — and juftice flandeth\ afar off, 8c.) \“fareki~ jt prets. this of the vengeance of God, and teoufnels in his judgments, not immediat cuted; but it is: to: be!underftood of the wan judgment and juttice being done among meny/and” therefore are reprefented as perfons turned « \ and: ftanding ‘afar off} rejected, meglectediand lift or, couraged, ‘The J. argum tenders it, “* they that-do — ‘‘.judgment: are ‘turned back; and *theythatde - ‘* juftice ftand afar off;” having none‘tortake their parts, but everyone oppofing thenty thisumayres — fpect both the want ofjudgmentiandejufticeéin” courts of judicature; no regard being hadito right’ andowrong; ‘no trué judgment being given,orju= ftice done, -in any caufe’; /but bothebanifhed! from the bench: and alfo in the churchesyof"@hrifty or however, under a’ profeffion) of his:name, where there is no judgment in» doétrines;*oredifeerning —_ between truth and.error; and) no jufticeripfi hy on delinquents, according ‘to the rules! of Chait; no order nor difcipline oblerved in histhoufe; ‘thefe” are difmified and.difcarded: for truth is fallen im ftrect, where it uled to be preached, exalted; eftablithed and confirmed; but now thrown down ~ and trampled upon, and few or none to help it up, and ftand by it; and tho’ it may have‘fome fecret weil-withers, yet very few, if ‘any, public» advocates for it: and equity cannot enters either’ into civil courts, or»chriftian congregations; the is noto- _deing of that whichis. juft and right between man and man, in things civik; and’ between chriftian and chritian, in things religious;\ or that which is right according toithe word: of God can find no — place, or can’t be admitted: intovaflemblies; that. are called by-his: name. 'The Targum is, ** they — ‘* that do truth, ftumble in’ the ftreet, andi they’ “ that exercife faith, cannot be made«amanifelt;”? fuch as are on the fide of truth, in the fervice’ of it, can’t ftand their ground, thro’ the violence: of | al their oppofers; and thofe that are» faithful; and abide by the dotrine of faith, are forced: to hide themfelves, and can’t appear in) the vindication - Of it. | "ANS RR - ¥«15. Yea, truth faileth, &c.} Or, ie Weprix vé4 ‘5 of its life and being; it not only falls in ~ the ftreet, and there lies, without any to fheware~ gard unto it; but it fails; it feems as if itchad ~ given up the ghoft and expired, fo very prevalent — will error be, before light and truth’ fpring) up again, and be victorious, as they will: amd:heshae = — departeth from evil, maketh bimjelf a prers he that does not give in to the prevailing vices of thea ye in which. he lives, now become: fathi my ble, | uit abftains from them, and departs fron | dastrie las well-as practical evils; from all falfe doétrines, an from all fuperftitious modes of ‘we a prey to others 5 a reproach and'adaugh to them; they feoff at him, < his precifenefs in religion; for his irrational notions in doétrine; and

©. My Minit peccata noftra refpondit contra nos, Montanus; id ipfum:, it ontra nos, in matters.of worfhip: or, be makes bimfelf reckoned a madman ®;-as tome render it; and this is.a‘common notion with prophane »men;) and <loofe profellors, to,reckon fuch as madmen that are upright in doétrine, worfhip and converfation; fee 4é7s xxvi. 24%,and the Lord jaw it, and it difpleafed him, that there was no judgment, he took notice of all this, _and refented it, tho’ \in.a profeffing people, that _there was no judgment:or difcretion in.matvers of doctrine and worfhip; no order or difcipline iobferved; no juftice done in civil courts, or in the church of God; no reformation in church or flate. io. anesd yalkns) | ¥.16. And be faw that there was vo man, &c.] Whofe works, are good,..as.the Targum adds; no good man, or faithtul and righteous one, that had -any. regard to truth and guitice; that was an advocate for truth, and oppofed error; and fet'on-foot a reformation; or was concerned for any of. thefé things, and mourned ‘over ‘the general corruption; not that it. muft be thought there-was not one’ individual perfon, but very few, comparatively none; _fince mention-is made before of fome that departed from evil, and made themfelves a prey:. and wondered that there was no interceffor 5 to ftand up, and pray for them, as the Targum; fo it feems a fpirit of prayer and fupplication will be greatly wanting in the times of latter day-darknefs, and before latter day-glory breaks out’: or, that there was 70 thterpofer *; none'to appear.on the fide.of truth and juftice, and on the behalf of thofe that become a prey.to others...Wonder.is here afcribed to God by.an anthropopathy, after the manner of men, as being a marvelous and furprizing thing, and almoit incredible, that none could be found in. fo good a caufe, and taking the part of injured truth and righteoufhefs;and it exprefles, the general cortuption and defect of religion in thofe times; and fhews that.it is not for the goodnefs of men, or their merits, that the Lord will do, what is next faid he did » therefore. his arm brought falvation to kim, either to himfelf, and which redounded to his own honour ‘and glory,; or to his people, thofe that’ became a prey to their enemies; thefe he refcued out of their hands, and by his own arm of power faved them; or he himfelf alone wrought out falvation for them, and delivered them from the infults, reproach and perfecution of men, under whatfoever name; fo when antichrift, and antichriftianifm in every form fhall be deftroyed, falvation will be:

afcribed to God alone, Rev. xix. 1: and bis righteoufnefs, it fupained him; his righteoufnels, in taking vengeance on his and his peoples enemies'; and his faithfulnefs, in the performance of his promifes, will fupport him in, and carry him thro’, his work, tho’ attended with difficulties that may feem infuperable to men: this may be underftood of Chrift, as well as what follows, The Jews ‘ interpret this of the Meffiah; who fhould come in an age in which are none but wicked men, as ts here faid. y¥.17. For he put on righteoufne/s as a breaftplate; &c.]. Here the Lord is, reprefented as a warrior clothed with armour, and as Chrift is, and as he will appear in the:latter day on the behalf of his people, and againft their enemies, who is called faithful and true, and in righteoufnefs will make war, Rev. xix, 11, 12, £3. he will proceed according to juttice and equity in righting the wrongs, | fan and avenging the injuries of his people; and both in faving them, and deftroying their enemies, he will fecure the honour of ‘his faithfulnefs and juftice, and’ the credit of his name and character; which will be preferved by. his conduct, as the breatt and inward parts are by the breaft-plate: andan belmet of falvation dpon bis head; the falvation he will work out for his ‘people ‘will be very confpicuous; it will be'feén by ‘all, as the helmet on the head; and he will have the glory of it, on whofe head are many crowns, Rev. xix.12. The apottle has borrowed thefe phrafes from hence, and applied'them to the chriftian armour, Ep). vi. 14, 17. 8 Thef.v. 8: and be put on the garnients of vengeance for clothing; or, he clothed bimfelf with vengeance as a garment *; he wrapped himfelf in it, and refolved to execute it on his and his peoples enemies, the time being come to avenge the blood of his fervants, by fhedding the blood of their adverfaries, with which his garments will be ftained;

- and therefore is reprefented as having on a vefture dipped-in blood, Rev. xix.13: and was clad with zeal asa\cloke, with zeal for'his own glory, and the intereft of his people, and againft antichrift, and all ‘afitichriftian’ worfhip and doétrine’; and therefore his eyes aré {aid to be as a flame of fire, Rev. xix! £2. |

¥. 18. cAccording to their deeds, accordingly be will repay, 8c.j- “A& the enemies of his people ‘have treated them; fo will the-Luord deal with them’; as they have ‘fhed theif blood, he will, according to the: laws of retribution and retaliation, give them blood to drink, as they deferve. The whore of Rome. fhall. be ‘rewarded as the followers of Chrift have been rewarded by her, and double thall be rendered to her double, according to her works, Rev.xvi.6.and xviii.6: fury to bis adver aries, recompence to bis enemies; the church’s adverfaries and enemies aré Chrift’s, and fo he efteems them; and therefore his wrath and fury is poured out by way - of recotipence to them, for all the il they have done. them, even the ¢iip of the wine of the fiercenefs'of his wrath, Rév. xvi. 19: to the iflands he will repay recompence; even to thofe who. dwell in the more’ diftant and remote parts of the antichriftian jurifdiction; for when the cup of wrath fhall be given to Babylon, every ifland will flee away, Rev. xvi. 20.

¥. 19. So fhall they fear the name of the Lord from the weft, and his glory from the rifing of the fun, &c.| The eaftern and weftern antichrift being deftroyed, way fhall be made for the fpread of the gofpel eaft and weft; which fhall be every where embraced, and the true worfhip of God fet up; ~ and the glorious name of the Lord, or the Lord who is: glorious in his name, nature, perfections and works, fhall be feared and ferved from the rifing of the fun to the’fetting of the fame, or by all nations under the héavéns; fee Mal. 1. 11. Rev. Xv. 9,4. and even thofe that are left in’ the antichriftian ftates, and ef€ape thé general ruin, fhall be affrighted at his judgments, fear his great and awful namé, and give glory to the God of heaven, Rev. xi. 13: when the’ enemy fhall come in like a flood 5 when fatan, the common enemy of mankind, the avowed and implacable enemy of Chrift and his people; fall come into the world, and into the church, as he will im theatter day; and has al+: ad ‘ready

Tremellius; habitus eft pro infano, Vitringa; fo Abendana, he that fears i’ Byes bas nul- «Spy yd wayyy & ready entered Jike an impetuous flood, threatening to carry all before him, introducing a flood of immorality and prophanenefs, as in the days of Noab and Lot, to which the times of the fon of man’s coming are likened, Luke xvii. 26—30. fee 2 Tim. iii, 1—s. or elfe a flood of error and herefy of all forts; fee Rev. xii. 15. and likewife a flood of perfecution, as will be at the flaying of the witnefles, that hour of temptation that. will come upon all the earth, to try the inhabitants of it, Rev. iii. 10, and xi. 7, 8... dben Ezra compares this paffage with, and illuftrates it by, that time of trouble which will be, fuch as never was fince there was a nation, Daz. xii. 1.. when. this will be the cafe, which feems to-be near at hand:-¢e Spirit of the Lord feall lift up.a ftandard againft. him, Chrift and his gofpel, or Chrift the ftandard lifted up in the miniltry of the gofpel, J/. xi.,10, 12. a fett of minifters fhall be, railed up, having the everlafting gofpel, which they fhall publith to all nations, and. which fhall have an univerfal fpread, and by means of which the earth fhall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the fea; and which will be a fufficient check to the enemy’s Hood of immorality, error and per-. fecution; and which, after this, fhall be no more; fee Rev. xiv. 6. Jf. xi. 9. Some render the words, when be, the glorious name of the Lord, or he who is the glory of the Lord, the brightnefs of his glory; hall come like a narrow flood, that flows with great fwiftnefs and force, and carries all before it; the Spirit of the Lord lifting bim up for a flandard'’, that is, in the miniftry of the word; /o /hall they fear, &c. then multitudes fhall ferve the Lord, and worfhip him. The Targum is, ‘* they that afflict fhall “* be as the overflowing of the river Euphrates 5 by «¢ the word of the Lord fhall they be broken;” and Vitringa thinks there is an allufion to the river Euphrates, interpreting the enemy of the Ottoman Turks, Tartars and Scythians, ftirred up by fatan to diftrefs the church: all this may be applied to the cafe of particular believers under the affaults of fatan their grand enemy; who feeks all occafions to difturb their peace, and deftroy their comfort, tho’ he cannot ruin their fouls; he comes in, not only into their houfes where they dwell, and gives them difturbance there; and into the houfe of God where they worfhip, and does all he can to hinder them in attending on the word and ordinances, and to prevent all ufefulnefs, edification and comfort thereby; but he enters into their hearts, and ftirs up the corruptions of their nature, and caufes thefe to rife like a food, which threaten with bringing them into captivity to the law of fin and death; and attacks them with violent temptations, fuggefting that they are not the people of God, the redeemed of the Lamb, or regenerated by the Spirit, but are hypocrites, and never had the work of grace on their hearts; aggravating their fins, and telling them they have finned the fin againft the Holy Ghoft, and there is no pardon for them; and at other times filling their minds with blafphemous and atheiftical thoughts; all which come upon them fometimes with fo much force, that it is like an overflowing flood that threatens with utter deftruc~ tion; when the Spirit of the Lord within them, who is greater than he that is in the world, lifts wp Chrift as an enfign or ftandard to them; and direéts them to his blood for peace and pardon, for

193 PDD) MF AM AW WD 83? 1D etenim veniet (fub. Dominus vel nomen

fpirita Domini- levante ipfum pro vexilloy Bootias, Animady. 1.

the cleanfing of their fouls, and the atonement of — their fins; where they may fee and read in legible characters the free and fall remiffion of their fins, and an entire fatisfaction to the juitice of God for them; and he holds up, and holds out the righteoufnels of Chrift unto them, with which God is well pleafed, his juttice fatisfied, and his law made. honourable; and by which they are juftified from all things, and fecured from all charges and condemnation; and who alfo leads them to the perfon, power and grace of Chrift, to preferve them in grace to, glory, to keep. them trom falling, and prefent them faultlefs before the throne of God the confequence of which is.a check to fat temptations; an antidote to the doubts and # he injects; and an abundance of {piritual peace and..comfort; as,well as it engages to fear the Lord and his goodneis. tad Banat: ¥. 20, And the Redeemer fall come.to Zion, 8c.) Not Gyrus, as fome; but the Meffiah, as it is applied in the Ta/mud ™, and in other Fewifh writers *, and as Abex Ezra rightly interprets it; and fo Kimchi, who alfo underitands by the enemy in the preceding verle, Gog and Magog, and this muft be underitood not of the firit coming of Chrift to redeem his people by his blood from fin, fatan, and the law; but of his {piritual coming to Zion to the church of God in the latter day, at the time of the converlion of the Jews, as appears from the quotation, and application of it by the apoftle, Rom. Xi, 25, 26. fee the note there, and with it compare Rev. xiv. 1: and unto them that turn from tranfgrefion in Facob, faith the Lord, that is, to fuch among the Fews, the pofterity of Facob, who repent of their fins, and turn from them; and particularly their fin of the rejection of the Meffiah, and the difbelief of him, and turn to him, and believe in him as their Saviour and King. The Targum is, ** and the Redeemer fhall come to “¢ Zion, and to turn the tranfgreflors of the houfe ‘“* of Facob to the law;” but rather the turn will be to the gofpel of Chrift.: ¥.21. ds for me, this is my covenant faith the Lord, &c.| with them, Which fhall be manifefted and made good to. them that repent of their fins, and believe in Chrift; and to whom the particular blefling of it fhall be applied, the forgivenefs of their fins; fee Rom. xi. 27: my Spirit which is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth; the Spirit of God, with his gifts and graces, which were upon Chrift the Redeemer without meafure; and the doétrines he received from his divine Father to teach others, and which he gave to his apoftles; the fame Spirit which in meafure was put upon them,.and the fame truths which were delivered to them: /hall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy feed, nor out of the mouth of thy feed's feed, faith the Lord, from benceforth and for ever; that is, fhall always continue with the church and her fpiritual feed, fuch as are born in her, and brought up by her, throughout fucceffive ages, and to the end of time; < may be obferved, that after the converfior

Jews, to which this prophecy has. they fhall no more apoftatize; th Lord hall not depart from them 5 fhall always be profefled by them further obferved, that the Spirit anc together; and that the latter is only Domini) inftar fluminis anguft $s (ra p, 68.: / mT, Bab. ADE "nN.

accompanied with the former, and is a‘ proof of the perfeverance of the church of God, ‘and of all fuch who have the‘Spirit and grace of God. Chrift will always have a church, and that church a feed, in'which the Spirit and word will always remain. The grace of the Spirit, in the hearts of God’s people, never removes from them; nor his gofpel

“A S in the two preceding chapters, the hypocrify and formality, the prophanenefs and immorality, that fhould abound in the latter day, and even among profeffors of religion, are prophefied of; fo, in this, a very ample account is given of latter day-light and glory; of both the fpiritual and perfonal reign of Chrift, with the latter of which it concludes. ‘The light and glory of the church, in the fpiritual' reign, are defcribed, ¥. 1, 2, 3. the numerous converfions of perfons to it from all quarters, eaft and weft particularly, are prophefied of, ¥. 4, 5, 6,'7, 8. the great ufefulnefs thofe fhould be of unto it, in enriching it, and building it up, and in glorifying it, is declared, y. 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. as alfo the fubjection of enemies to it; the. favoyrs it fhould receive from kings, and the fame and renown of it thro’ all nations and ages, ¥. 14, 15, 16. its riches, profperity, peace and fafety, ¥. 17, 18. and the chapter is concluded with an account of the more perfect ftate of the church in the perfonal reign of Chrift, when there will be a perfection of light and righteoufnefs; and the number of God’s elec will be compleat, and they will be all together, ¥. 19,-20, 21, 22..

y¥. 1. Arife, foine, &c.| The Targum adds, O Ferufalem; and fo do the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, and Arabic verfions; and no doubt but the church of God is here addrefled: and by what follows, it feems to be the Fewi/h church, as diftinct from the Gentiles, fince they are faid to come to it, the Jews, now converted, and’brought into a church-ftate; and who are called upon to avi/e out of their low, dejected ftate and condition, in which they have long lain, and fhine: or to awake, as fome? render it, out of that fleep and lethargy they have been fo long in, and to fhine forth in the exercife of grace, and difcharge of duty: or to be enlightened *; with the light of Chrift, and of the gofpel, now come unto them; and to diffufe this light to others, to hold it forth in profeffion and converfation; fee Matt. v. 16: for thy light is come, the Targum, ‘* for the time of thy “redemption is ceme’;” meaning from the Badylonifh captivity, which that paraphrafe refers to: but this is not intended here, but the {piritual profperity and happinefs of the ‘fews in the latter day, at the time of their converfion; and the fenfe is, either that Chrift, the light of the world, was come unto them in a fpiritual way; or that the glorious * light of the gofpel of Chrift was come unto them, and fhone upon:them; or the time was come, that the blindnefs that had been fo long upon them ~fhould be* taken off, and the veil be fed away they had been fo long covered with, and they be turned to the Lord, the fulnefs of the Gentiles now. *being about to be brought in; fee Rom. xi. 25.

POH FA. 329 from fuch, in whofe hearts it-works effectually: The Targum interprets this of the words of prophecy; and the Talmud ° of the law not departing from the difciples of wife men; but it is beft to underftand it of the gofpel not departing from the difciples of Chrift, and the feed of the church.

2 Cor. iii. 14—16: and the glory of the Lord 1s rifen upon thee, or the glorious Lord; he, whofe glory is to be feen, as the glory of the only begotten, who is the brightnefs of his Father’s glory, the fin of righteoufnefs; who fhall now rife upon thefe, and leave a glory upon them that fhall be vifible.

¥. 2. For bebold the darknefs fhall cover the earth, and grofs darkneJs the people, &c.] Like that which covered the land of Zgypt, when there was light in Go/ben: and this may be meant either of the darknefs of ignorance, idolatry, fuperttition, falfe doétrine, and falfe worfhip, that fhould cover the far greater part of the nations of the world, before this light and glory fhould break out, as it does at this day; fome parts of it being covered with Pagan darknefs, others with Mahometan darknefs, and others with Papal darknefs; and a very {mall {pot it is where the light of the gofpel is, and that clear, but among a very few; for the moft part it is not clear nor dark, it is not day nor night; and this is the evening-time, in which, ere long, it fhall be light; fee Zech. xiv. 6, 7. or elfe this may de- _ fign the diftrefs. that the antichriftian ftates will be in, when’ this light fhall break forth; the kingdom ‘of the beaft will be full of darknefs, diftrets, and confufion, Rev. xvi. 10: but the Lord frail arife upon thee, and his glory foall be feen upon thee; as on the tabernacle of old, Lev. ix. 23. to which the allufion is //. iv. 5. this fhews that the light and glory of the Lord in-the preceding verte, defign the Lord himfelf, and his gracious prefence, and the difplay of his glory in the gofpel now preached; and that it will be vifible in the church, and taken notice of by othérs, and induce them, and even great perfonages, to come unto it, as follows: or be fhall be jeen or appear in his glory upon thee; fo Ben Melech renders it, fuppofing that 3 in, is wanting; and fo the fenfe is, that Chrift thall appear in the glory of his perfon and of his of:

fices, and efpecially his kingly office; and in the glory of his grace and righteoufnefs, in the mini- {tration of his word among his people. The Yews* apply this to the firft coming of Chrift, which belongs to his fpiritual reign,

¥. 3. And the Gentiles fball come to thy light, &c.

To the gofpel, preached in the midft of her; and to Chrift, who is her light; and into her church-ftate, and partake of the profperity and happinefs of it. The Targum is, ** and nations fhall walk in thy “© Jight;” and fo in Rev. xxi. 24. where it is interpreted of the nations of them that are faved, truly regenerated and converted perfons: and kings to the brightnefs of thy rifing; Chrift, the fun of ° righteoufnels, will rife upon her; and this being the morning of the latter day-glory, the church will rife as a bright morning-ftar; and fuch will ° be

2)5N illuminare, Pagninus, be the evidence and luftre of gofpel-truths and ordinances, that kings fhall be enlightened by them, and come and join themfelves unto her, and walk with her in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord. Some’ of this high rank and dignity have been called, and but a few; but in thofe times the-inftances will’ be many, even all’ kings fhall ferve and worfhip the Lord, Pf. Ixxii. 11, y. 4. Lift up thine eyes round about and fee, &c.} The Gentiles and kings coming to Chrift and his church; the vaft number of converts flocking from all parts of the world to join themfelves to the church of Chrift, and to behold the wonderful work of God among the Yews now converted. The Targum is, “ litt up thine eyes, O Feru/alem, round “« about, and fee all the children of the people of € thy captivity:” all they gather themfelves and come to thee, this feems to have refpect not to the Gentiles, as before; but to the Fews themfelves, who are fcattered up and down in the world’; but now, being in a wonderful manner converted, fhall gather together in a body, and go up to Feru/alem, where a chriftian church of them will be formed, and to which they will join themfelves; or this, may refpect the kings, y. 2: thy fons fhall come from far, fuch as are of the feed of Abraham, children of the Fews, and now born again, and fo Zion’s fons; thefe fhall come from the furtheft parts of the earth, where they are, and incorporate themfelves with their brethren: and thy daughters fall be nurfed at thy fide; by the minifters of the word, and with the fincere milk of it, and the breafts of gofpel-ordinances; fee 1 Thef. ii. 7. The Targum is; fhall be carried at their fides*; and the Septuagint and Arabic verfions, on their /houlders; and fo refers to the manner of their being brought, and not to their bringing up; fee ch. xlix. 22. but the former fenfe is beft. Ben Melech interprets it of their being nurfed up at the fide of great perfonages, kings and queens, according to J/- xlix. 23. The word ¢by is not in the original; and it may be as well rendered, a their fide, as is fupplied by fome +.

¥. 5. Then thou fhalt fee, and flow together, &c.| That is, when thou feeft thy fons and daughters flocking to thee from all parts, there will be a flow of joy in thee, like the ftream of a river; or thine heart will beat and flutter within thee, thro’ furprize and joy, when thou feeft fuch a numerous company gathered unto thee. Some render it, then thou foalt fear, as. Aben Ezra, or be furprized at the fight; and others the next claufe, thou foalt be enlightened ~, that is, fhall fee, being enlightened, and fhall increafe in light and knowledge more and more: or /bine*, in great {fplendor and glory: and thine heart fhall fear, and be enlarged; {hall fear the Lord and his goodnefs, and be enlarged with love to him, his truths and ordinances, and his people; and particularly, fhall be enlarged to receive in the moft cordial manner thofe that flock unto her: becauje the abundance of the fea fall be converted unto thecs; by which fome ainderftand the riches of the fea, that which is got out of it, or got upon it, in trading by it, this thall be converted to the ufe of the church and people of God; but rather an abundance of fea-faring men is here meant, who fhall be converted at this time, in which the grace of God will the more appear, as waters.do many people, nations,..and, ki Rev. xvii. 15. and fo it may denote a large abun=)

they are generally a very. wicked and profi of men; or the inhabitants of the. iflands, of - fea, fuch as Great-Britain and others 5 or - fa, > AS» may intend the feveral nations of the.

efpecially in the weftern parts of the world,

European parts; fince it is very common, in. ture to defcribe the weftern part of the world by. the fea, the’ Mediterranean fea lying welt of Fudea. The forces of the Gentiles foall come unto thee, ovtheir armies, every, army of them; the foldiery, y be converted, as well as the. fea-faring men, who: are. for the moft, part alfo exceeding wickeds only kings will become.real.chriftians, but thei armies will be fo too, their generals, officers,, and. common foldiers; and when this is once the; cafe, wo to the whore of Rome, thefe will hate her,.and burn her flefh with fire; thefe are the feven.angels. that fhall come out of the temple, the church. of, God, to whom they have joined themfelves,. with. the vials of God’s wrath, and fhall pour them. upon the antichriftian ftates; fee Rev, xy. 7, and, xvi, 1. and xvii. 16. - ~7y tad ian _ ¥, 6, The multitudes of camels foall cover thee, the, dromedaries of Midian. and Exhab, &c.\ ~ Vhat.isy. multitudes of people riding on thefe creatures from, the parts mentioned, which abounded with, them,. fhould come and cover or fill Jerujalem, and the places about it. Midiaz was a fon of Abraham by; Keturab, and Epbah a fon of Midian, Gen. XXVie4u- thefe and their pofterity ifhabit Arabia; andfo this is a prophecy of the conyerfion of the.drabians that. dwell in Arabia Felix, Petraa and Der ferta; and fo the Zargum, ‘* a multitude of Ara-.

‘¢ bians fhall cover thee round about.” A dro-, medary is a lefler camel, and fwifterthan the others and both are very frequent in thefe countries, and ufed in travelling. Strabo” calls the Arabian See~ nites, feeders of camels. Al) they. from Sheba foall. come, they foall bring gold and incenfe, Sheba was) another of the. pofterity of Abrabam by, Keturabs, Gen, xxv. 3. and lived near the others; the queen» of this country came to hear the wifdom of Sola+ mon; but the people of it in the latter day, sill, come to a greater than he, even. to Chrift, and to, his church, and bring their gold and incenie, as; the wife men did to Chrift, and hall honour the. Lord with their fubftance; fee P/. xxii. 10, 15.5) and they fhall foew forth the praifes of the Lords, who has called them by his grace out of Alahometan darknefs, into the marvellous light of the) gofpel. Thefe were the things the Sabeans abounded, with. Strabo « fays, that trankincenfe, myrrh, and. cinnamon grew with them; and that they have fuch an abundance of fpices, that they | branches of cinnamon, cafia,, and other things, for, fuel; and that fome of them are fo rich merchandife, that they have very fumptuous and much furniture of gold and filver, as beds, tripods, cups with covers; and even # gates, and walls, and roofs are adorned y gold and filver, and precious {tones,. And fo Biay: obferves, that the Sabeans are very t hin: fruit ful and odoriferous. woods, and in mines of gi and other things; fee Ezek, xxvii, 22. Vilring underftands both thefe claufes of the camels bring- ing gold’ and incenfe, and praifing the Lord in | their way, or being the occafion of it.

‘y. 9. All the flocks of Kedar fall be gathered unto _ thee, the rams of Nebaioth fhall minifter unto thee, &ce.} Nedaioth and Kedar were the fons of [/bmael, Gen. xxv. 13. Ifimael’s twelve fons, of which Ne- _ batoth was the eldeft, inhabited all the country from Euphrates to’ the Red-Sea, calling it the Neabatene country, as fofephus * fays thefe defign the Turks and Swrecens; who fhall now be converted. © The

Targum is, “all the fheep of the Arabians thall be

** gathered unto thee;” that is, thefe thall come with their fheép’ and rams, not to be offered up in’ facrifiee;. for fuch facrifices will not be ufed; but thefe being the produte of the countries of thefe people;’‘are mentioned to fhow, that being affected with the grace of God towards them, and influenced by it, will bring the beft and chief of their fbftance to ferve the intereft of Chrift, and glorify him with it: they ball come up with acceptance on my altar; both they and their facrifices and offerings will become acceptable to God thro’ Chrift, who’ is that altar that fanctifies every gift: and I will glorify the boufe of my glory; with this large number of converts, and with the gifts and offerings they bring with them, the church is meant, which is the houfe of God, where he dwells and manifefts his glory, the glory of himfelf, of his grace, and of his gofpel; fee Fer. xxx. 19. ¥. 8. Who are thefe that fly as a cloud, &c.] Referring. to the vaft number of converts beforementioned, who. are compared to a cloud for the number of them, covering ¥udea as the clouds do the heavens; and for their elevation and fituation, being raifed from an earthly to an heavenly ftate; called with an high calling, and made partakers - of an heavenly one; and for their being filled with the grace of God, as clouds with water; and for their unanimity, their coming together in a body, making as it were one cloud, and that openly and publickly, profefling Chrift, and joining themfelves to his church, in the face of the world; and fo the Targum, “* who are thefe that come pub- “6 lickly, as the {wift clouds;” and chiefly are they compared to a cloud, for their fwiftnefs in motion to Chrift and his church; finners, fenfible of danger from the avenging juftice of God, from his law, and from ‘his wrath and difpleafure, and eternal death, and being apprized of falvation and fafety-in Chrift, make hafte and flee to him as fwiftly as a cloud driven *by the winds: and as the doves to their windows, or dove-houfes, or lockers and doles *; thro? which they enter, and to which they bend their courfe with great fwiftnefs, when purfued by birds of prey, or thro’ an eager defire after their young: convertéd perfons may be compared to doves for their being a clean and cleanly ereature; for their being amiable and lovely, chafte and loving; harmlefs and inoffenfive, meek. and humble, weak and ‘timorous; mournful and difconfolate when they have loft their mate; and what dove-houfes are to thefe, Chrift and his church are to converted perfons, whither they flee for reft and fhelter, and where they*have both: the ordinances of Chrift may be particularly meant by thefe holes or windows that doves make unto; by which, efjally baptifm; they enter into the church, and “means of which light is let into them, and thro’? which Chrift thews himfelf to them, Cant. ii. 9. what engages them to flee hither is, their

SSS by ad columbaria fua, Montanns, Vitringa 3 in fuis forulis, Cattalio,

33% love to Chrift, in order to have communion with him,.and food for their faith; and when he caufes them to come, or draws them by his grace, nothing can hinder; not the reproaches of the world; nor the temptations of fatan, nor objections from their own unworthinefs. Thefe words are faid by the church, by way of admiration, wondering at their numbers and fwiftnefs in coming to her; fee ch, xlix. 21, The Targum is, ** the captivity of

‘** Traels who are gathered together, and come to

¥. 9. Surely the ifles foall wait for me; &c:] The Targum is, ** for my word.” The Meffiah and his coming. ‘The ifles of Great-Britain may more efpecially be intended, who, as they waited for his gofpel, and readily received it, and embraced it, as foon as it was brought to them, which. was very early; fo there are many here now waiting for the fpiritual coming of Chrift, and the glory

.of his churches in the latter day, and perhaps more than in any other part of the world befides.:

and the foips of Iarfbifh frft, to bring thy fons from

far, their filver and their gold with them; this is to

be underftood of the ews converted in diftant parts of the world, who fhall be brought in tranf{portfhips to the churches of Chrift, particularly in Fudea; and the fhips of Tarfbifh fhall be ufed in that fervice principally, they fliall be the chief that fhall be employed. Moft of the ewi/b commentators, as Farchi, Aben Ezra, Kimchi, and Ben Melech, think there is a want of the particle of fimilitude as, and that it fhould be rendered, and the fips of Tarfrifh as at firft; and then the fenfe is, they fhall be made ufe of now to bring the con-~ verted Fews with their fubftance from foreign parts, as they had been in Solomon’s time, for bringing gold and filver, and other things to him, from diftant places, 2 Chron. ix. 21. but by Larfhifo here, is not meant Tartefjus in Spain, as Vitringa; nor Tar/is in Cilicia but the fea itfelf, which is fo called; and fo the Targum renders it, the /hips of the fea; and Farchi obferves, that this is the name of the fea; and what fhips can be better underftood than ours of Great-Britain, fo famous for fhipping, and which claims the fovereignty of the feas? thefe may be principally employed in bringing great numbers ie converts from different places to the church of God; and as J/rael, when they came out of Egypt, came forth with filver and gold; and when they came out of Babylon, they were furnifhed with gold and filver, and every thing convenient for their journey, and for the rebuilding of their city and temple, P/. cv. 37. Ezra i. 4, 6. fo when they are gathered from their prefent difperfion, and are called and converted, they fhall come with their riches to the church of Chrift, and honour the Lord with their fubftance, and promote the intereft of religion by it, as it follows: unto the name of the Lord thy God, and to the holy one of Ijrael, that is, their perfons fhall be brought unto him, and their riches alfo; they hall give up themfelves, and all they have, to the

Lord, and devote themfelves and their fubftance to his glory, and the good of his intereft; even to him whofe name was deteftable to them, but now precious; and whom they will own with the church to be the Lord their God, their redeemer and fanctifier: becaufe be hath glorified thee; the church, caufed fuch a glory to arife upon her, and 2.

43% that a defences fo that it will continue, and be fo vifible and manifeft, as to draw perfons from all arts, tho’ the moft diftant, to come unto her, and join themfelves with her. } y¥. 10, And the fons of frrangers foall build up thy walls, &c.] The fons of the people; or Gentiles, as the Targum; who were ftrangers from the covenants of promife, and aliens from the commonwealth of Jrael; ftrangers to God and Chrift, and the Spirit of Chrift, and to the gofpel, and all. that is good; yet the fons of thefe, being in great.

numbers converted every where, will be ufeful in - building up the church of God, \in-ftrengthening, protecting, and defending it; thefe are the fame with thofe afar off, that fhall come and build in the temple of the Lord, Zech. vi. 15. fuch there, have been among the Geztiles in all ages, more or lefs, fince the times of the apoftles, who have been inftruments of the edification of the church, and of the defence of its doétrines and ordinances; and more there will be in the latter day: and their kings hall minifter unto thee, that is, the kings of, the Gentiles, as Conffantine, and fome other truly chriftian kings and emperors have done, though their numbers have been very fmall as yet; but when this prophecy is fulfilled, it will be a.general cafe; kings every where will be nurfing fathers, and queens nurfing mothers to the church, will ferve the intereft of it, and promote it to the utmoft of their power; fee ch. xlix. 23. Pf Ixxii. 10, 11: for in my wrath I fmote thee, but in my favour have I had mercy on thee; for the Jews rejection of the Meffiah, for their contempt of his go- {pel, and perfecution of his apoftles and minifters, wrath came upon them to the uttermoft, upon their city, temple, and nation, to the deftruction of them, and which is ftill upon them; and though blindnefs is happened unto them, and they are {hut up in unbelief, yet there is a time when the Lord will have mercy on them, call and convert them, and return their captivity; fee Rom, xi. 25, 26, 31, 32. Fer. Xxx. 18.

¥. 11. Therefore thy gates fhall be open continually, 8cc.] ‘This is expreflive both of the peaceable ftate of the church, that fhe ’fhall be in no danger, nor fear of enemies; there being none to hurt and deftroy in all the holy mountain; and therefore under no concern to keep her gates fhut; fee Ezek. xxxviii. 11. and of the vaft concourfe of people to it, continually; converts from all’ parts, thall be always coming in, and the gates of the church will ftand open always to receive them; they’ll be welcome, come as many as will; there will be no objection to them, no hinderance of them; minifters and people will gladly embrace them; -fee ch. xxvi. 2. and likewife of the capacity of the church to receive them; for tho’ they will be continually coming in great numbers, yet {till there will be room; the gates will not. be fhut upon them, as unable to receive more; place will be given for them to dwell in; her tents will be enlarged; the curtains of her habitation ftretched “out; her cords lengthened, and ftakes ftrengthened; fo, that tho’ fhe breaks forth on the righthand, and on the left, there will be room for them all, Jf, liv. 2. and xlix. 20: they fhall not be fbut day nor night; this claufe is referred to in Rev. xxi. 25. but there differently exprefied, and the gates of it fhall not be fout at all by day, for there fhall be no night there; the reafon of which difference is, becaufe the new Yerufalem-{tate, or perfonal reign of graces of his Spirit, which will fhin

-Chrift, will be a perfect ftate, and no night at allin — it; but the fpiritual reign of Chrift, towhich this p phecy relates, will be an imperfect one, tho’ glorious; and therefore mention is made both of day and night: that men may bring unto thee the forces of the Gentiles; the whole ftrength of them, their armies; fee the note on ¥.5. The Targum paraphrafes it, the fubftance of the people, their'wealth and riches: end that their kings may be: brought; or Jed‘; either in ftate, as kings on ~ fometimes are or rather, as captives in’ chains; fee I/. xx. 4. fo the Targum renders it, bound; being conquered by mighty grace, and led in chains of

‘love to Chrift, and to his church, and become obedient. Kimchi has this note, ‘* they fhall come ‘* before the king Mefliah, as fervants before their — ‘* mafters,” (? Hite ¥. 12. For the nation and kingdom that will mot Jerve thee foall perifo, &c.) That will not ferve the Lord Chrift, and worfhip him with his church and people; that will not be obedient to the laws and ordinances of his houfe; but appoint another head over them, the pope of Rome; and make other laws, and fet up other ordinances, rejecting,. the authority of Chrift, the rule of his werd, and the order of his churches: yea, thofe nations fhall be utterly wafted, even all the antichriftian ftates, when the vials of God’s wrath will be poured out upon them; fee Zech. xiv. 17, 18. ban ee: ¥.13. The glory of Lebanon foall come unto thee, &c.] Which are the trees that grew upon it, efpecially the cedars, for which it was famous, as well as the other trees after mentioned. Now, as thefe were brought into Se/emon’s temple, and ufed in the building of that, 1 Kings vi. 9, 10, 15. fo fuch fhall come of themfelves, willingly and chearfully,: being drawn with the cords of love into the church of Chrift, comparable to the tall and ftrong ¢edars” of Lebanon, and other trees, being eminent) for their gifts and graces, and ftrong in the exercife of. them; the more feeble among them being as’ the houfe of David, and that as the angel of the Lord; and being durable, conftant and immoveable in the work of the Lord; pillars in his houfe that fhall never go out; ever green and flourifhing; never wither in their profeffion, and always fruitful in every good word and work; of a good: {mell in the exercife of grace; of fayoury converfations, and of a good report in the world; fee Pf. xcii. 12, 13: the fir-tree, the pine-tree, and the box together; which may denote perfons of different ranks and fizes, both as to worldly and {pirituat affairs; and yet will all agree to come together, to the church, and will unite in the fervice and worthip of God in it, and be a real glory to it; fee If. xli.19: to beautify the place of my fantuary the church fo called, in allufion to the tabernae and temple; and thus the Targum here, ‘¢

“* place of the houfe_of my fan¢tuary;” wher t } holy God dwells; and which is fanctified’ by ‘him, and where he is fanctified,’and worfhip ed in;: tified in the latter day, when the fair s thar wil come into the church, will-put on by faith manifeftly the beautiful garments. of Chrift’s 1 teoufnefs; and be more vifibly a brilliant diamonds and fparkling gen appear in the beauties of bali ver in brotherly love with each oth nd uni fentiments of doétrine, and in acts of ¢ pel fhip; and when the gofpel fhall be purely: and _ powerfully preached, the ordinances adminiftered, _as they were in the times of Chrift and his apoftles; and gofpel-difcipline in all its branches reftored: and 1 will make the place of my feet glorious; alluding to the ark under the mercy-feat, over which were the cherubim, and between which Febovab dwelt, hence called his foot-ftool, 1 Chron. xxviii. 2. denoting that the church is the place where the Lord grants his prefence thro’ Chrift, the antitype of the mercy-feat and ark; and which is the feat of his reft and refidence; where he takes his walks, and where. his foot-fteps of rich grace are feen; where his lower parts, his feet, his works, and acts of grace are beheld; where he favours with communion with himfelf; where his power and glory are obferved, and his beauty is upon his people; where they fee the king in his beauty, and all which will be more manifeftly enjoyed in the latter day, and make his church very glorious indeed.

¥..14. The fons alfo of them that affified thee, foall come bending unto thee, &c.| ‘The pofterity of the Yews, who perfecuted the firft chriftian churches, even thofe who fay they are Yews, and are not; thefe fhall be convinced of the truth of the chriftian religion, and, be converted to it, and fhall. come and worfhip before the church, and in fellowthip, with it; and own it to be the true church of God; which is what is foretold fhall be in the Philadelphian ftate, which is the fame with the fpi- ‘ritual reign jhere defcribed; fee Rev. iii, g. or the children of the Roman heathens, their remote dedeendants, who formerly greatly diftrefled the chriftians; or rather the pofterity of Rome papal, many of whom fhall be called out of her at the time of her deftruction, and be humble fuppliants to the church of Chrift, and be fubject to the doétrines, rules and Jaws of it, whofe anceftors cruelly. perfecuted it: and all they that defpifed thee foall bow themfelves down at the foles of thy feet; a phrafe expreflive of great refpect, veneration and fubmiffion; fee ch. xlix. 23: aud they fhall call thee, the city of the Lord, the Zion of the holy one of Jjrael; inftead of calling them heretics, {chifmatics and fanatics, as their fathers did, they fhall own them to be the true church of Chrift; a city of his building, and where he dwells; the object of his choice delight and love, as Zion was; a holy people made meet to be the habitation of the God of I/rael;. which are fo many names for the church under. the gofpel-difpenfation; fee Heb. xii. 22. Rev. xiv. 1). aie }

¥. 15.. Whereas thou: haft. been. forfaken, &c.] Seemingly forfaken of God; thought to be fo by herfelf,. which was matter, of complaint;,.and by her enemies, which to them was matter of joy;

the Lord not appearing for, her immediate relief,, and for her deliverance, out; of the hands.of her perfecutors; and hated,of all men, of wicked and prophane, finners, and. of carnal. profeffors,. and efpecially of the antichriftian party: fo that no man went through thee, very few. paflengers in Zion’s ways x few afked the way.to her, or joined themfelves in fellowfhip and worfhip with her. Facod mesial _the number of conyerts exceeding few: J will thee an eternal. excellencys the faints are the excellent in the earth, in, the efteem of God and Chrift; they are their jewels and. peculiar trea-